Concert features Chatter Trio
Chatter spawned a trio.
Thanks to a $10,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant, a trinity of Chatter musicians have formed a core group to play together as well as anchor larger ensembles.
Violinist David Felberg, violist Shanti Randall and cellist James Holland are the Chatter Trio and they’ve been rehearsing since September.
“We’ve always toyed with the idea of a residency,” Felberg said, “just to build some consistency. But we never quite got around to doing it.”
The grant supports expanded times of up to 12 rehearsals per piece, permitting the musicians to dig deep into the repertoire. Previously, the players rehearsed from three to four times per piece, Felberg said.
“When you walk up on stage after rehearsing 12 times, you feel really good,” he added. “We can really have a lot of fun. Rehearsals are tough to come by, because everybody’s got busy schedules.”
On Sunday, March 5, clarinetist James Shields will join the trio on the Penderecki Clarinet Quartet. Krzysztof Penderecki is considered Poland’s greatest living composer. “Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima” is his best-known work.
“He writes in a polytonal style,” Felberg said. “In his later years, he’s become a little more classical.”
The program also will feature Leonard Bernstein’s
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano and Three Romances by Schumann.
On March 26, the group will premiere a commissioned piece by Italian composer Marta Gentilucci. The trio will perform with a flutist, percussionist and pianist.
“We’re each individually rehearsing our parts,” Felberg said. “One of the parts requires you to bow the strings (of the piano) with fishing wire. It’s incredibly beautiful. She creates an amazing tapestry; something like sound sculpture. It should be a very interesting program.”